Wednesday, 11 September 2013

A TRIP IN THE GHOST TOWN

Civico
23 began life in Rome in 2010 on the initiative of Massimo “Joe”
Galatone and Lorenzo Gaudino with the aim to blend classic rock with
new sounds. After a demo and an intense live activity in the Roman
area, in 2013 the band released an interesting début album on the
independent label Lizard Records titled “Siero progressivo”
(Progressive serum) with a line up featuring Massimo “Joe”
Galatone (vocals), Lorenzo Gaudino (basso), Daniel Parisi (lead
guitar), Federico Cianfarra (rhythm guitar), Simone Mastrodonato
(organo, piano, keyboards) and Francesco Cossio (drums). The result
of their efforts is a personal “NeWintage” music (as they define
it) full of raw energy and irony with a strong theatrical approach
and influences ranging from Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Premiata
Forneria Marconi to Joe Cocker, Neil Young, Dream Theater and many
more.

The
opener “Umida cenere” (Wet ash) begins with an electric guitar
arpeggio. Then, out of the blue, the music and lyrics conjure up hard
images of desolate, dark streets where drug dealers and pimps rule
over men and women who burn their life under a gloomy rain before
getting lost into the black, as wet ashes swept away by a hurricane.

“Il
menestrello” (The minstrel) is a short narrative introduction to
the following “Il cavaliere illuso” (The deluded knight) , a
long, complex track that alternates heavy guitar riffs and calmer
moments, fiery organ rides and acoustic passages. It tells the story
of a knight who kills a dragon and later realizes that he did the
wrong thing since the dragon was there only to protect the town. The
ungrateful townsfolk are far from happy for his noble deed since the
dragon used to feed on hatred and negativity giving peace in
exchange. So, eventually, the knight runs away and shelters in the
forest, ashamed and regretful. In some way this track reminds me of
another Italian prog band called Fiaba.

“Urano”
(Uranus) tells in music and words about a cathartic voyage toward
Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun, named after the ancient
Greek deity of the sky. It starts softly, then a sudden burst of
energy marks the take off towards deep purple skies. Along the way
you could die working in slavery, haunted by apocalyptic visions and
then come to life again with a new hope... “Stand up!”.

“Paura
infinita” (Infinite fear) features a heavy atmosphere where the
music and lyrics evoke gloomy, infernal figures moving behind the
black face of Death, wildly dancing on the deck of a pirate ship...
“Forests of fire / Deserts of sulphur / Come on damned! Dance with
me! / You're welcome in my Hell...”.

“Aureo”
(Aureus) is a short narrative piece which sets the atmosphere to the
following “I sette angeli” (The seven angels), an apocalyptic
ballad evoking seven angels carrying death and destruction on earth.
After their passage there's nothing left but dust, ash and silence,
then a woman crowned with stars appears in the sky bringing a new
hope. She's ready to give birth to a new messiah, a new sun is going
to rise and you can't do nothing but hope in a better world...

“Delirio
ad occhi chiusi” (Delirium with eyes closed) begins with a delicate
piano pattern, then the rhythm rises bringing a positive energy along
with odd dreams and strange sensations. Only keeping your eyes shut
you can fly over the towers of the prophets discovering humble,
fragile secrets and see the infinite throughout the light that for
centuries has been hiding it... “I want to shout on a distant music
/ As the wind blowing on a volcano that is going to erupt...”.

The
long, complex “L'ultimo grido di Galeria” (The last scream of
Galeria) is my favourite track on this album. Galeria is a ghost town
that lies near Rome and was completely abandoned by the inhabitants
in 1809, probably on account of a malaria epidemic. This piece
depicts in music and words a traveller who walks among the ruins of
the ancient buildings in wintertime. He can still hear the songs of a
minstrel carried by the wind or the screams of pain of some lost
souls still echoing all around...

A
last short narrative track, “Rimane il mare” (It remains the
sea), concludes the album with sparks of fairy tales and poetical
visions... “In the beginning it was silence, then wind and rain
came / And the sea with its ever changing wave / Then came the man
with his wars and no solution / Then music came, primordial sounds /
And in the end, in the very end / The wind was gone, and the man with
his heart of pain was gone too / There was nothing left but the sea /
A sound that can replace every human sound...”.